OFFICIAL CIRCLES: Will there be shuttles to the All-Party Party?

The All-Party Party is a tradition quite unlike any other reception of the year. Generally the Hill circuit is limited to parliamentarians and their assorted hangers-on; that’s Official Circles’ bread and butter after all. But once a year the wider Hill family comes together to celebrate as a group. The initiative was born out of an idea from Peter Stoffer, a man regularly voted as one of the most collegial MPs on the Hill. Stoffer wanted to combine the disparate partisan Christmas parties into one communal affair. The result is a Hill staple eagerly anticipated by a wide circle of the capital’s bright young things.

All together now!

[start_gallery][end_gallery]

Moved from its traditional home in the closed-for-renovations West Block, the party took over the much roomier Government Conference Centre across from the Chateau Laurier. The former train station is an example of splendid architecture that’s been savaged by blind bureaucracy. The main hall with its soaring pillars is marred by the most unappealing translation booths erected like tenements against the stately walls. The rest of the space is chopped up randomly but the architecture fortunately still shines through. Government does learn from its mistakes though and is in the process of restoring the spectacular banker’s hall in the Bank of Montreal building on Wellington that will eventually become the permanent home to events like the All-Party Party.

From early in the evening, all the rooms were so full of guests you’d be forgiven for missing the fact that there were no MPs. A huge number of votes related to amendments to the Conservative government’s omnibus crime bill were holding everyone up but the other guests didn’t seem to mind. The extremely diverse crowd of staffers, security guards, cooks and reporters dressed in everything from jeans and a T-shirt to ball gowns or some great boots with the fur. The food was simple but plentiful featuring meatballs, pita and hummus, chopped things on bread and homemade chips with French onion dip. At one point noodle boxes came round but they didn’t last long.

The multiple room layout meant that you could change atmospheres at will; moving seamlessly through the various spaces. The formal part was brief and included greetings from the event’s co-chair, Senator Jim Munson (MP Mauril Bélanger was voting of course). The event’s major sponsor was represented by former NB premier and current head of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association Bernard Lord. The layout was not conducive to too many speeches though and the party continued on throughout.

Unlike most Hill functions this was a cash bar, albeit one that was staffed with particularly attentive volunteer bartenders and was heavily subsidized. Wine was only $3 bucks a pop. There were musical acts that played throughout including a performance from MP Andrew Cash.

By the time the MPs arrived a little after nine, the party was in high gear and continued late into the evening. There were lots of NDP and Liberal MPs. MP Earl Dreeshen and Senator Greene were spotted, giving at least two for the Tories. Other parliamentarians included Justin Trudeau,Rodger Cuzner, Peter Stoffer, Mauril Bélanger (co-chair), Ruth Ellen Brosseau, Joyce Murray, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, Jasbir Sandhu, Hélène Laverdière, Marie-Claude Morin, Senator Joyce Fairburn, Élaine Michaud and Mark Eyking. There were lots of media too including a special appearance from Mark Critch of This Hour Has 22 Minutes fame.

Despite having been on their feet voting for hours late into the night, you can be sure that those parliamentarians who did stop by were greeted with affection by all the denizens of the Hill. It was after-all a celebration; a time to remember that no matter what job may bring you to Parliament Hill we can all still hang out together as ordinary people. Makes you want to burst out into O Canada.

As always there were a range of door prizes donated from embassies and associations including wine, gift certificates and oddly enough a Ukrainian decorative egg. The raffle featured some big ticket prizes including tickets anywhere in the world Air Canada flies and sleeper class train tickets to Vancouver on Via Rail.

In a story which gives a glimpse into the rarefied bubble of the Hill, some offices apparently inquired if there would be shuttles available to the event. For those unfamiliar, the Government Conference Centre is a mere five minute tumble down the Hill from the Peace Tower.

Fortunately everyone seemed to have found the place alright and the event was a complete success. It’s nice to see that despite what rancour may come in Question Period, the All-Party Party is still alive and well in 2011. It’s a tradition worthy of preserving.